-dinner-
Marc cleared his throat. "Diane," he said. "I have something to ask you."
"What?" I replied without looking up.
"Would you like to have dinner with me?" he asked. "Tonight, tomorrow, wheneverŠ"
Almost immediately, I stopped clearing the papers. I couldn't think.
"IŠdon'tŠ" I tried to formulate a coherent sentence.
Marc smiled. "It's alright if you don't want to."
"No, it's not thatŠ"I said.